The Lds Church recently had a evening devoted entirely for women where certain leaders shared messages they felt the women were needing to hear. I was able to attend in person and it really truly was a great meeting. I won't lie I was a bit distracted at the beginning and just couldn't stay focused so I will have to go back and see what I missed but I was definitely focused in when President Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke-I know you are all thinking that his message was especially for you but I assure you it was a personal message to me. (isn't that amazing how that happens?)This particular section was something so close to my heart that I didn't even know I needed to hear until it was spoken (the full text can be found here )
"Dear sisters, many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others. Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself.
In the meantime, be thankful for all the small successes in your home, your family relationships, your education and livelihood, your Church participation and personal improvement. Like the forget-me-nots, these successes may seem tiny to you and they may go unnoticed by others, but God notices them and they are not small to Him. If you consider success to be only the most perfect rose or dazzling orchid, you may miss some of life’s sweetest experiences."At the point I am at in my life pretty much each and every thing that I do is a small thing seemingly unnoticed, but it isn't unnoticed. My efforts to go to bed without dishes in the sink, to help miley drink from a cup, to have family home evening, to eat out less- all such tiny things that Jt probably doesn't even realize I am trying to accomplish- My Father in Heaven noticed, and is proud of me. He trusts me to do these things and to find accomplishment in them. Such a sweet message for me.
I am quite critical when it comes to my family's life, I am not kidding when I say that I am always bringing up in conversation some area in which we are lacking in our home and here are all the things we need to do to fix. Luckily my mild-mannered male counterpart JT always happens to have an example of something we are doing right to slow me down from thinking that we are probably the worst people ever, doomed to an eternity of damnation after we die. I definitely needed the counsel that I should not be putting my happiness on hold while striving for the righteous goals.
This gets to be at its worst when I begin comparing myself and our family to others. Which is silly honestly. How easily I forget that I am living my true dream. I have a letter I wrote to my "future self" when I was 14 or something about where I wanted to be when I was 25ish (I think? sadly I failed to remember or write down the "writing prompt" for the letter) and I actually accomplished every single item that I put on the list. Even as a 14 year old I knew that I wanted to be a mother, and everything else would just be dreams to dabble in until I was a mom. Which brings me to my next point...
I really, really, really, love being Miley's Mother. I really think most people don't know how obsessed with it I am because I keep it to myself. I often ponder the role motherhood plays in my life, in my gender, in society, religion, the eternities, how it changed every ounce of me inside and out etc. With that being said the tenderness in my hearts makes me have these moments where I imagine how painful it must be to hear about mothering when its not something you are able to do at the present and it breaks my heart. I have absolutely no desire to put anyone in that situation of sadness or pain so I just don't talk about it. I really don't know if that is the right thing. I guess people could just choose not to read my blog anymore if I posted more "dear to my heart" mom topics but I don't really want that either. So I am torn I guess.
I just really wanted to share some of the mothering readings I have been doing- so just know that I have been contemplating and if you want... you can contemplate with me.
* Please understand that these are not LDS doctrine just people's personal understandings which have gotten me to start considering my own role as a mother
via meagan- A living sacrifice- Kathryn Lynard Soper
Womeninthescriptures.blogspot.com
importance of birth ( this one is pretty long and has some of the writers deeper personal concepts)
Why I Love my stretch Marks
Appreciating the physicality of Birth
2 comments:
I don't think you should feel guilty AT ALL to write down your thoughts about being a mother. I feel that when I do that, my single or married w/o children friends just skim and move on. Or, it gets them excited to someday be a mother. I have found that if I don't blog about it, I won't remember. I have a pretty terrible memory about things and even Brinley's progression. First and for most, your blog is your family journal. I try to remind myself of this often and if people don't want to read, then move on. This record is for my family, not those random ppl I know read my blog. That RS broadcast was one of the most powerful meetings I have been in, and like you, I was pretty distracted up until Pres. Uchtdorf's talk. Maybe it's because he's in the 1st presidency?? Not sure, but he said everything I needed to hear. It was pretty amazing. Pretty sure he has changed every woman's view points of how they view themselves and how they view others. At least he did that for me. Can't wait for GC this weekend and see what other messages really strike me. (isn't that article I posted amazing about your time not being wasted?? Holy cow I need to read that more often).
1. I got your reference at the beginning of your post Grace Kelley.
2. I am sorry for not being as available as I had advertised to hang out with you! I am going to California next weekend but I will be back after that, and we should definitely hang out. I mean it this time. :)
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